NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police, the New Hanover County’s Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety partnered together for Operation Coastal Watch this week.

The sting targeted subjects wanted for a variety of offenses including narcotics violations, assault, robbery, weapons offenses, and probation violations.

Andre Addison is one of the 47 fugitives in the area police arrested.

Addison is a register sex offender and was brought in on an outstanding warrant charging him with failing to report a change of address-sex offender.

District Attorney Ben David says he hopes this operation sends a message.

“The most likely people to commit an offense are the ones that already have, look at any statistic. The men and women coming out of the prison system, we send a strong message to, ‘welcome home,'” David said. “If you are going to be coming into this community because you grew up here or you’re from somewhere else, you need to register within 72 hours if you are a sex offender.”

Operation Coastal Watch began on Tuesday and wrapped up Thursday. During that time law enforcement completed 244 compliance checks of registered sex offenders.